In five years’ time, the battle to keep data secure against cyber-attacks will descend into a “machine on machine war” with the advancement of artificial intelligence, a former head of MI5 says.

In five years’ time, the battle to keep data secure against cyber-attacks will descend into a “machine on machine war” with the advancement of artificial intelligence, a former head of MI5 says.

Lord Jonathan Evans, speaking at Jersey Finance’s “An Open World” Annual Private Wealth Conference, told an audience of more than 600 family offices, wealth holders and advisers that attacks would become more sophisticated as hackers made use of semi-autonomous technology.

Martin Winterkorn may have survived an attempted leadership coup in April, which pitted third-generation chairman against non-family executive, but the Volkswagen CEO did not prove so resilient in the face of the corporate scandal currently rocking the carmaker.

Martin Winterkorn may have survived an attempted leadership coup in April, which pitted third-generation chairman against non-family executive, but the Volkswagen CEO did not prove so resilient in the face of the corporate scandal currently rocking the carmaker.

Today the family business is reportedly set to announce that Matthias Mueller, who current heads the company’s luxury Porsche brand, will take over the entire group.

Winterkorn had worked at Volkswagen since 1993, serving as CEO for the last eight years.

While a good reputation can bolster consumer loyalty and even increase sales, one slip up in the public eye can set a family name back generations. A new report by Campden Wealth and Credit Suisse looks at the increasing importance of reputation management in Asia

When Korea Air vice president Cho Hyun-ah delayed a flight on her family’s airline last year after becoming enraged by a flight attendant who served her nuts in a bag rather than on a plate, the public fallout was immediate. Twitter hashtags were created and newspaper editorials criticised her entitlement. Within a month the 40-year-old had resigned from all her positions within the family holding company Hanjin Group and is facing criminal charges, while her family’s airline is looking at a $2 million fine and possible flight bans.

2014 was a lively year for family businesses, from Abigail Johnson’s succession at Fidelity, to the Market Basket ownership struggle and of course Korean Air’s infamous ‘nut rage’ incident. Here we take a look at some of the issues we think will remain top-of-mind for 2015 and the family businesses to watch.

2014 was a lively year for family businesses, from Abigail Johnson’s succession at Fidelity, to the Market Basket ownership struggle and of course Korean Air’s infamous ‘nut rage’ incident. Here we take a look at some of the issues we think will remain top-of-mind for 2015 and the family businesses to watch.